The Things I've Seen...

It's been a beautiful week here. 80s and 90s, with hot sun that makes me sweat on my walks. Some of you may enjoy this weather, some may be more appreciative of the 50s and 60s of autumn. I would've put myself in the second group, but I think I am adjusting well to the climate here, and I really don't mind the heat.

But it is warm. So I was a bit taken aback when I saw a large Santa Claus in the grocery store. My first thought was that Christmas decorations are up appallingly early. But I guess with no Halloween or Thanksgiving, they probably keep them up for quite a while.

Then came my second thought, "Why is he dressed in his traditional red suit?" Santa Claus braving arctic temperatures is standard for those of us in the northern hemisphere, but here, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer. The second half of December, everything shuts down as people take Christmas vacations (the beach, national parks, etc.). So it seemed ridiculous to me that they would picture Santa Claus in his standard cold-weather outfit.

Apparently, someone else had the same idea. Because at the back of the store was another Santa figurine (again about 4 feet tall). Except this one was a bit more reasonable. His hat was off, his jacket was wide open, and all he had beneath his jacket were his suspenders. You can all be grateful that I did not have my camera. I can assure all of you that Mrs. Claus has gotten Santa to eat plenty this year.

Because interesting diets are often a part of cross-cultural experiences, I was prepared to try a lot of different foods. But it turns out most of the cuisine is pretty much what I'm used to. I have largely flipped my meals around though, because the structure of the day is a bit different. I eat a large breakfast and a smaller lunch and dinner because there's not so much activity after work.

Breakfast is usually two eggs and three pieces of bacon with a bowl of cereal to wash it down. Then at work I eat an apple or two and a few hard-boiled eggs, and supper is usually a salad and a bowl of oatmeal or a sandwich. It's not really exotic (although eggs are a pretty big staple here), but it keeps me going.

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I also want to take a minute here to thank everyone for their prayers and support. It's been a full two months here and everything is going really well. I'm comfortable with things, I'm happy, and it feels a lot like home. I'm positive that your prayers have contributed to my easy transition and my lack of serious problems. So thank you very much.

-Ben